With a doctoral education in anatomy and physiology and over 10 years as a core instructor at a prestigious university for massage therapy training, I have a deeper understanding of how the body functions as compared to many massage therapists. I also believe in involving you in the work and incorporate many techniques that fall under the Neuromuscular umbrella to help your brain recognize the changes your body is trying to make, such as Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. Additionally I incorporate techniques borrowed from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) such as Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Massage ("Gua Sha" in TCM) as well as negative pressure cupping to facilitate the break down of scar tissue and the release of fascia. I have found both of these techniques to drastically improve the removal of metabolic wastes from chronically tight areas, thereby allowing the body to heal faster and generate healthy tissue in a more functional way. See what the doctors of the Mayo Clinic have to say about Fibromyalgia and cupping by following the link to this Questions page at the Mayo Clinic.

​​"Dr. Ebling and I spent a few minutes talking things over, and she basically had all my problems pegged before my body touched the massage table. That is a good, good sign! I've had physical therapy sessions that were far more expensive and much less useful than the hour I spent at Elemental Medicine." AK

What about "deep tissue" or "sports massage"? Do you do that?​

I absolutely work deeply into the muscles and connective tissues during a standard therapeutic massage. I do not however believe in the "no pain no gain" theory. I will always respect your individual pain threshold and work to keep you out of the "breath holding, I can't possibly take it for another second place", in favor of the "oh yeah, it hurts so good place". There's really no such thing as a sports specific massage. As a therapist with a doctoral degree and extensive knowledge of anatomy, I'm well-versed at getting active people back to their peak performance

Can people with cancer receive massage?

Of course! I have been working with cancer patients and survivors of cancer for many years. While there are some times during treatment when additional care might need to be taken, I firmly believe that EVERY BODY can benefit from touch. I actively take massage students to a local Portland oncology center and we provide massage to patients while they are receiving their chemotherapy as well as while waiting for radiation, PET scans, CT scans and generalized testing. Stress and anxiety relief are often my primary focus but I have also had great success minimizing the effects of neuropathy, swelling and even nausea. I have extensive experience dealing with scar tissue from radiation and multiple surgeries and have helped many people experience improved range of motion, decreased pain and hope that their body can move and feel so much better. I always recommend getting approval from your Oncologist and I am more than happy to discuss the benefits with them directly.

That's awesome! It is always a good idea to verify coverage with your insurance company and I would be happy to help you with that process. I am an in network provider with the following private insurance companies: Frist Choice Health, HMA, Moda, Multiplan, Providence, & Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield. If you have health insurance and you have discussed massage with your primary care physician, it is possible that even without complementary care benefits, massage therapy will be covered. A prescription from your doctor may be required and to make it easy, you can download the form here to have your doctor fill out.

I don't have insurance that covers massage, do you offer any discounts?

​In an attempt to make massage more affordable as a regular part of your health routine, we came up with our Elemental Enthusiast monthly plan. Visit our membership page to see how you can experience the benefits of massage at a discounted rate. I also offer a discount for full-time students and those age 65 or better.

I was in a car accident recently. Could massage help me?

Absolutely! Your soft tissues have just experienced significant trauma - gentle massage can get you back to feeling your best. Massage therapy is typically covered under the Personal Injury Protection benefits in the state of Oregon. We are happy to help you with the process if you have questions and we will perform all of the billing so you can relax and heal from your injuries.